Margaret Sheedy and her husband
Patrick Geary alias Sheedy/Ryan
Preface by Jenny Fawcett
Margaret Sheedy was born in Kilfinan in Limerick c 1825,
the daughter of Timothy Sheedy & Ellen Brown.
Margaret's death certificate incorrectly states that her
father was Edward Sheedy.
When Margaret's husband was undergoing trial in 1871, the
Melbourne newspaper Argus dated 8th of April,reported
an article describing the appearance of Patrick Geary and
Margaret Sheedy before the Police Court in Colac on
Wednesday April 5, 1871 and their subsequent committal
for trial. It had been taken from the Geelong Advertiser
and at the end of the article was stated:-
". . . the Advertiser elsewhere mentions that 'by a curious
coincidence, on the same day that Mrs Geary arrived by the
coach, her father, who has been residing at the house of
one of his sons, a short distance out of Colac township,
died, and his funeral took place at the very time while
his daughter and her husband were undergoing their trial
or murder. His name was Sheedy, and at time of his death
he was 77 years of age.'"
The newspaper was referring to the death of Timothy Sheedy,
father of Margaret Geary.He died on the 4th of April at
Illawarra, outside of Colac, at the residence of his
son Thomas Sheedy.
Timothy had been sent to Tasmania in the 1840's on a petty
larceny charge, and Margaret is believed to have spent
about one year in Tasmania and the rest of her time in
Victoria, after her departure from Ireland. It was probably
in Tasmania that she met her husband Patrick Geary, who
was a convict transported per Lord Auckland. They married in Hobart
in 1850.
Margaret and her husband Patrick Geary where in the Colac region
in the early 1850's Patrick Geary murdered a fellow shepherd
and a couple of years left the district, and Margaret Geary
promptly headed to the Port Fairy district,where one of her son's
died. The informant on the child's death certificate was his
uncle Thomas Sheedy [later married Catherine Walsh and resided
Colac.The other families in Towerhill/Port Fairy region
were Michael Sheedy and his son Matthew Sheedy, and Patrick
Sheedy [m Ellen O'Connell].
One piece of information that is important here is that Michael
Sheedy and his son Matthew Sheedy farmed at Crossley near Richard
Scott's residence. Richard Scott was the son of George Scott and
Margaret Sheedy/Sheehy. RIchard Scott had a brother George Scott
who resided in Geelong and who employed
Patrick Sheedy per Neptune ,m Bridget Ryan
as a barman in 1850.note: this Patrick Sheedy was charged
with assaulting a prostitute who had knowledge of Sheedy's stolen
wallet in Geelong This Patrick Sheedy shortly after moved to
Piggareet. Margaret Geary moved to Piggareet shortly after residing
at Port Fairy...so we have another connection between these families.
Also, George Scott, the publican who employed
Patrick Sheedy per Neptune had a wife called Johanna who
is buried in the Port Fairy cemetery, even though she had been a
publican at Geelong for many years prior to her death. Her husband
is not buried with her.
We will continue to gather information available, and welcome
all contributions.
Margaret Sheedy
born: c1823.Kilfinan.Limerick Ireland.
[son John's birth cert~]
note: incorrectly listed as Tipperary on her death cert.
parents:
Timothy Sheedy & Ellen Brown
note:father incorrectly listed as Edward Sheedy
on her death certificate. The Argus
report of 8th April 1871 confirms that
Timothy Sheedy is her father.
died: 19th.June.1872 at Springdallah.Victoria. Australia.#
informant on death cert was son Michael John Geary.
buried: Smythesdale. Vict.Aust.#
arrived: c1849 to Tasmania. # [src:death cert]
c1851/52 to Victoria per Lochnagow
# [VPRS 515 unit 5 page 510]
note by J.Fawcett.:
probably the 'Loch na ger' a barque c380 tons
which made journeys to Melbourne from London
1848 - 1852. IT usually carried only a couple
of dozen passengers,its main load being cargo,
so if Margaret arrived on this vessel, it was
either as one of those immigrants in that
time frame,or else she journeyed from Tas
to Victoria on the vessel, though the
vessel is not known as having arrived in
Tasmania in that time frame.
literacy; 1850 -unable to read or write [src:marr cert.]
occupation: 1850 - Servant. src: marr cert #
1854 - HutKeepers Wife src:1871 trial evidence#
1857 - Maid src:dau's death cert#
married: 1850.April 8th.St Joseph's ,Hobart. Tasmania.
{as Sheady & Guiry}
witnesses: Patrick Tighe and Johanna Brown
spouse: Patrick Geary [other: Guirey,Gairey]
born: c 1825 src:marr cert
parents: unknown
place: Knockanderry.Limerick Irel.
[src:son John's birth cert]
arrived: 1846. Tasmania as convict per "Lord Auckland"+
occupation:
1846 - Cooper - Tasm src.convict records
1850 - labourer/sailor .Tasmsrc:marr.cert
1854 - shepherd - Colac - Vic src:newspapers
1854 - carter.Colac
1855 - horse dealer - Vic son's death cert
1857 - hut keeper - Colac src:dau's death cert
1868 - labourer -
History
Patrick Geary arrived in Tasmania from Ireland after being convicted
of malicious assault and recieving a 7 year sentence. The Lord
Auckland departed Dublin on the 19th April 1846 on its second
journey to Australia carrying convicts, and it arrived at Hobart
on the 25th of August 1846.
Margaret Sheedy's death certificate states that she had spent about
one and a half years in Tasmania,and twenty years in Victoria,
placing her possibly in Tasmania c 1850 -/51.
but that has not yet been determined.
Margaret Sheedy [as Sheady] and Patrick Geary [as Guirey]
married in Hobart on the 8th April 1850 at St Josephs Church.
The witnesses to the marriages where Patrick Tighe and Johanna
Brown, the latter being a probable relative. Patrick claimed
he was 25 years old, a bachelor and sailor by occupation,
and Margaret stated she was 28yo,a servant and previously unmarried.
The minister was W.Hall.
Margaret's whereabouts and occupation around this time are
unknown. Those of Patrick Geary will be determined from his
conduct records when they are obtained, as that conduct list
contains information on any information pertaining to Patrick
such as residence at different times, promotions through the
convict system, or demotions [eg..loss of privileges etc].
Around 1851/52, according to information given at Patrick's
later trial, Margaret and Patrick Geary arrived in Melbourne,Vict,
around 1851/52, where their daughter Johanna was born.They move
over may have coincided with his release as a prisoner, as his
term would be due to be expired at this time,unless he was an
escaped convict.
In 1854,Patrick Geary was working as a shepherd for
Hugh Murry,at Ti-Tree Station, at the Warrions near Colac, in Vict.
Thomas Brookhouse, a fellow shepherd also in the employ of Murray
and he and Geary kept a flock of sheep and lived in neighboring
huts.
An ongoing dispute between the two ended when Brookhouse was
murdered by Geary on February 28th 1854. Brookhouse was duly
reported as 'missing' and a large scale search was carried out.
Brookhouse was not found and although suspicion rested upon
Geary, nothing could be found proven against him at the time.
Brookhouses' remains lay where Geary had placed them until
their discovery in 1869. At this time Geary was working in New
South Wales where he subsequently admitted his crime to an
employued, Patrick Murphy. At first Murphy refused to believe
Geary, however when a newspaper article appeared describing
the finding of Brookhouses' remains and the verdict of the
coroner's inquest implicating Geary, he advised Geary to give
himself up.
Geary was arrested in Albury on February 28th, 1871 and
extradited to Victoria, tried and was hanged on December 4th 1871
at the Old Melbourne Gaol.
After the 1854 murder, Patrick and Margaret Geary remained on in
the shepherd's hut for some time [possibly as long as 18 months]
before moving into the town of Colac.
Patrick was convicted for horse stealing on December 19th 1856.
Charged as having on the ninth day of November on the Elephant
Bridge and Hopkins Roads about 4 miles from McWilliam's Public
house did feloniously have in his possession a brown horse branded
RN off shoulder the property of William Robertson,Esquire, of Ondit.
Patrick claimed that Thomas Lawler was present
as also Thomas Sheedy and they both saw the receipt after I
bought the horse of Mr Berthon. The witnesses for the
prosecution were Edward Berthon,David McWIlliams, William Flower
and John Davenport Bromfield and the case was proved against
Patrick Geary and he was was convicted of the offence and sentenced
to 7 years.
Patrick's time in prison did little to curb his behaviour as the
following records from Police and Government gazettes reveal.
1861 -
Patrick Sheedy, also known under the name of GUIRY, and RYAN,
charged with stealing a horse, the property of Robertson Cocks,
is supposed to frequent the house of one David Gorman, at the
Plenty River, and also of one Quin, at Kilmore, and is believed
to have been in the habit of visiting Daniel Mara at the Jew's
Harp Creek. Since the description of the offender was given in
the above reference he has shaved off his whiskers in a line
with the bottom of the ear.
[2nd Sept 1861-source Police Gazette page 315]
source: Police Gazette.page 259
1862 - Patrick Sheedy is charged on warrant, with stealing:-
[three steers and four cows,various colours, branded CKS near
ribs, of Langworna Station, near Kyneton,during the past 12
months, from Robinson Cocks, Langworna Station].
The offender is supposed to be an old hand, and an Irishman,
40 or 45 years of age, 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high,dark complexion,
dark hair and whiskers, the latter worn under the chin,slightly
pockedmarked, low quiet accent, and slovenly gait.generally wears
bush dress. He is supposed to be at either Jew's Harp Creek,
Lancefield,or Deep Creek. [22nd July 1862]
No's 8 on the above list ]nb: this is one of the stolen horses
listed above-JF] the property of Adam DODD, has been recovered,
having been traced to the possession of Patrick SHEEDY, also
GUIRY, alias RYAN, alias PADDY FROM THE MURRAY, alias OLD PADDY.
[see above reference no 315]. He was last seen between Avenel
and Longwood. He then stated his intention of going either to
Orr's station or Blight's,near Albury.
24th Sept 1862 [source Police Gazette's ,page 341]
No 3 on this weeks list of Horses Found, was traced to the
possession of Patrick SHEEDY, alias GUIRY, alias RYAN, alias
PADDY FROM THE MURRAY, alias OLD PADDY.
1st Oct 1862. [source:Police Gazettes page347 ]
Nos 2 and page 260. The property of Pat LAFFY, the recovery
of the former of which is gazetted in the above reference, are
believed to have been stolen by Pat SHEEDY, alias GUIRY, alias
RYAN, alias PADDY FROM THE MURRAY, alias OLD PADDY.
May be expected at Seymour, riding a bay horse belonging to
Miss RIGGS, of Donnybrook.
29th Oct 1862 [source:Police Gazettes page ]
Around the time of Patrick's first arrest in 1856 for
horse stealing, Margaret Geary ,nee Sheedy, moved to the
Port Fairy region, where their son John died in January 1855.
Margaret is next known to be in the Ballarat region when
her daughter Margaret was born in October 1856.The little
girl died in April 1857 and Margaret shortly afterwards
moved to the Piggoreet region [note..also at Piggoreet was
Patrick Sheedy [m Bridget Ryan.] note..Margaret's husband
at one time used the alias Ryan.
IN 1869 Margaret wrote to her husband Patrick in response to
an advert placed in a paper asking for her whereabouts. On March
31, 1871, Margaret was arrested at Piggoreet and taken to
the Smythesdale watchhouse. From here she was sent to Colac,
for the APril 5, 1871 committal hearing as an accessory
after the fact to the murder of Thomas Brookehouse.
She was subsequently acquitted of the charge at the November
17th 1871 trial, and released.
The Port Fairy {Belfast} papers detailed the events in relation
to the court
case:-
Belfast Gazette. March 30th 1871.
At the Central Police Court on Saturday John Geary, alias Patrick
Geary, was placed in the dock charged with the murder of Thomas
Brookhoare,[sic] a hutkeeper, at Colac, about 17 years ago.
The prisoner had been remanded from Albury,N.S.W.On the application
of Sergeant Toohey he was remanded to appear at Colac on Friday.
It is understood that the evidence against Geary will be wholly
of a circumstantial character, and the case, if properly handled
will be one of the most intersting in the annals of Victorian crime.
One by one the most startling disclosures have been made until at
length some careless expressions from the lips of the prisoner
led to his apprehension. Whether the prosecution may be sustained
or not, it will be redound to the cred of all engaged should the
tragedy with which he seems to have been connected in some way,
be fully investigated.
Belfast Gazette. April 13 1871
The Colac Murder
At the police court on Thursday, Patrick Geary alias John Geary and
Margaret Geary were charged with the murder of Thoms Brookhouse,
seventeen years ago. SUperintendent Brooke prosecuted.
The depositions of Albury witnesses were read, and twelve witnesses
examined. The case occupied five hours. The female prisoner stated
in the box that her husband had committed the murder, and that she
had assisted to put Brookhouse on the horse. Both were committed for
trial.
Belfast Gazette April 20th 1871
The trial of the prisoners Geary, man and wife, for the murder of
Brookhouse, the Colac shepherd, seventeen years ago, has been
postponed until the sittings of the Circuit Court at Geelong,
in October next.
This course has been taken in consequence of the Crown not being
prepared to proceed with the case owing to the non arrival of
important witnesses from Albury.
Margaret died on the 19th June of the following year,{1871} at
Springdallah of kidney disease. She had been ill for three months
and Thomas Foster was her medical attendant.
Her husband was executed in the Melbourne gaol.
Children
Johanna Geary
born: c1851/52.Melbourne.Victoria. #
married:1872 in Ballarat, Victoria,to
Gaspare Abbondio Perinoni
died: 1907.Derwent Jacks. Vict.Aust. #
buried:1907.Smythesdale.Vict. #
Section 3. Common Grave no 153 ~
Ellen Geary
born: c1853. Melbourne. Victoria. #
married: 1883. in Geelong.Vict to
Sylvester Chas Bennett #
died: 1902. Piggoreet.Vict.Aust. #
buried:1902. Smythesdale.Vict.Aust. #
Section 3. Common Grave no 153 ~
MichaelJohn Geary
born: c1854.
married: 1882.Allendale.Victoria, to
Mary Ellen Ryan.
died: 1903. Ballarat. Vict.
buried:
John Geary
born: birth reg 1854.Colac.under Guiry.
[no 4804]Mother's name Mgt SHAADY
died: 23rd of Jan.1855.Belfast [Port Fairy].
no 1676
died aged 5 months of Gastric Convulsions
and fever which he had been suffering for
two months. Dr Jermyn was his medical
attendant.
buried: Port Fairy Cemetery.Victoria.
informant was uncle Thomas Sheedy.possibly
Thomas Sheedy [m Cath Walsh]
buried: Port Fairy Cemetery 24th of Jan.1855
Thomas Sheedy and John Cavenagh where the
witnesses to the burial and claimed to be
householders in Port Fairy.
A signature comparison with Thomas Sheedy
of Colac will reveal if they are one and same.
Margaret Geary
born: 1856 Ballarat.Victoria.
dau of of Margaret Geary [no 12421]
died: 29th of April 1857 Ballt.
of Pat and Margaret Geary. She
was only 7 months old, and the death
cause is listed as Thrush.A Mrs Ryan
is listed as the Medical Attendent.
[no 3056]
buried: 1st of May Ballarat. Vic.
Family Researchers:
descendent; Chris Tuttle
snailmail: 102 Clarendon St, Thornbury. Vic 3071.
descendent:Mary Bennett
relative: Marion La Riojj .New Zealand.
Notes
* = sighted original record.
# = information supplied by Chris Tuttle.
+ = convict records available for Patrick Guirey from the Archives
office of Tasmania.
1 - Conduct record [no con 33/82]
2 - Indent [shipping list] [con no 14/33]
3 - Description List [physical desc] [Con 18/48]
~ = srce: Mary Bennett
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